With the Grain: The Nuance of Wisdom

When people say the Bible is full of contradictions, Proverbs 26:4–5 is one of the places they often point. Verse 4 says: “Do not answer a fool according to his folly…” Verse 5 says: “Answer a fool according to his folly…” So… which is it? Do we speak up? Or stay silent? If one verse says don’t do something, and the very next verse says do it — isn’t that a contradiction? Not exactly. What looks like confusion is actually an invitation. An invitation into the nuanced nature of wisdom. Because wisdom isn’t just knowing what to do. It’s knowing what is happening in the moment — and what is happening inside of us — as we seek to discern and make the best possible decision. This week, we’re going to explore why wisdom is less about rigid rules and more about discerning the better way in real time.